Three creative Interior Design students from the American University in Dubai (AUD); Cathlyn Nassif, Tania Khachek, and Leen Moussa, achieved international recognition at the LIV Hospitality Design Awards 2025. Their collaborative project, "ETERNA," was named the winner in the Interior Design – Hotel (Boutique) category.

Their project ETERNA reimagines boutique hospitality as an immersive, ever-evolving experience shaped by nature. Inspired by the fluidity and quiet strength of water and the natural process of erosion, the design explores how space can be sculpted over time—resulting in soft, continuous, and deeply personal environments.

Rather than following conventional hospitality layouts, ETERNA treats architecture as a process of transformation. Each space is conceived as a unique spatial journey where organic forms, light, and materiality converge to create adaptive environments that respond to the user, effectively blurring the boundary between architecture and emotion.

The LIV Hospitality Design Awards is a global competition launched in 2020 to recognize excellence in hospitality architecture, interior design, and guest experience. Open to both professionals and students worldwide, projects are evaluated by an international jury of architects, designers, and industry experts based on criteria such as innovation, aesthetics, functionality, and overall impact.

Rooted in a contemporary and sculptural language, ETERNA defines hospitality as an intimate and experiential retreat. This victory underscores AUD’s commitment to preparing students to push boundaries and think critically about the future of design, ensuring they are ready to contribute high-quality, innovative projects to the global hospitality industry.